Angelo State Unversity College of Liberal and Fine Arts Department

Angelo State Unversity
College of Liberal and Fine Arts
Department of Modern Languages
Course Syllabus
Course:
French 3311-010
Advanced French Grammar for Conversation
Meeting time and place: Tues/Thurs 9:30 – 10:45
Academic 107
CRN # 14220
Instructor:
Dr. Randolph Peters
Office:
Academic 110H Phone: (325) 924-2245 ext. 6165
Email: [email protected]
Skype: Arpee1
Office Hours (Opportunities to interact) MWF 9:00-10:00; 11:00-12:00; TR 11:00-1:00
Please note that interaction outside of these hours is possible if mutually convenient and if a request is made via email.
Office hours are also for remedial purposes. Please contact me early on if material is unclear to you or if you have any
other questions regarding the class. You are most likely to make contact by e-mail.
Required Textbooks and materials
-
Texte: Face-à-Face, Conversation et Rédaction, Ghillebaert, Vista Higher Learning.
Access code for VHL Supersite: http://faceaface.vhlcentral.com
A computer equipped with a microphone to create sound files
Prerequisites: French 2312
Course Description:
This course will be taught entirely in French; however, the need for clarification of the finer points of grammar may
occasionally require recourse to English. The course is designed to improve the four language skills: listening, speaking,
reading and writing with special emphasis placed on oral communication. To this end the knowledge of French grammar
already acquired through the completion of introductory level courses will be reinforced and extended. The textbook
used offers a wide array of materials (films, literature, comics and cartoons) designed for achievement of these goals
through interactive engagement and student-centered processes. The course materials will broaden and deepen
students’ knowledge of the cultures of France and francophone countries and provide reference points by which to
evaluate their own culture. The core materials are technology-based and will engage the students in the exploration of the
latest products of our technological age. As such this course is aligned with the following:
 Mission statement of Angelo State University: ...”to provide students with a basis for making sound decisions
and mature judgments which depend upon an understanding of the...traditions of many cultures; to help each
student reach maximum capability with respect to communications, effective reasoning, and analytical thinking; to
educate students for living and working in a competitive global society...”
 Departmental purpose: ..”to help students acquire the ability to read, write, speak, and understand world
languages, and to appreciate and evaluate other literatures and cultures…to prepare students for certification to
teach in the public schools….”
 My personal and professional goals: to heighten awareness of the role of language in society; to successfully
engage various learning models in Second Language Acquisition.
Course Objectives
 The primary goal of the course is to equip the student with the ability to discourse verbally and non-verbally in
French, intelligently, fluently and with a high degree of linguistic accomplishment.
 To inculcate in students knowledge of some of the salient features of the history and culture (perspectives,
practices, products) of the francophone world.
 To equip students with the level of linguistic proficiency designated by ACTFL (American Council for the Teaching
of Foreign Languages) as Intermediate High to Advanced Low1
 To fulfill the “The 5 C’s” enunciated as the ultimate goals of foreign language education by the American Council
on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL): Communication, Cultures, Connections, Comparisons and
Communities.2
1
See http://www.sil.org/lingualinks/languagelearning/otherresources/actflproficiencyguidelines/contents.htm
for concise summaries of ACTFL guidelines
2 See: http://www.actfl.org/files/public/StandardsforFLLexecsumm_rev.pdf
2
These objectives speak to the following IDEA Form Objectives3:
 Essential (E):
1.
Gaining factual knowledge (terminology, classifications, methods, trends) (French vocabulary,
grammatical structure and analysis)
8.
Developing skill in expressing oneself orally or in writing in French
Important (I):
2.
Learning fundamental principles, generalizations or theories (Understand mechanisms of language and
culture)
3.
Learning to apply course material (to improve thinking, problem solving, and decisions)
Learning Outcomes:
At the end of this course students will be able to:
 Discourse in French with a high degree of linguistic competence about some of the following topics
o Personal relationships, friendship. love and death,
o Family relationships
o Media and technology
o Travel and transportation
o Society and social problems
 Manipulate competently in their articulations advanced grammatical structures such as:
o The pluperfect
o The conditional perfect and other conditional constructions
o The subjunctive.
Assessment of learning outcomes
These objectives will be assessed by means of the following instruments:
- Chapter tests
- Evaluation of oral presentations
- Evaluation of writing assignments
- Evaluation of group assignments.
My Role / Your Role:
Because of the way second languages are learned by adults, you really cannot be “taught” French. Therefore, my role is
to facilitate language learning by creating an environment in which the language acquisition process is enhanced, and by
guiding you in the endeavor. Every course requirement is designed with this in mind; there is no “busy” work assigned.
All of the course work has a purpose. So, your role is to fully immerse yourself in the work both in the classroom and
through the outside assignments. Success in this course is your responsibility.
Student Obligations
3


Buy the textbook and acquire the key to the accompanying online VHL Central exercises.
Fully engage the content of each course module before coming to class. Content (vocabulary, film viewing,
conjugations, etc.) must be engaged at home. Class time will be devoted to activities designed to enhance
communication skills, reinforce comprehension and acquire competence in the use of the structures learned.

Attend class regularly and punctually. The attendance policy outlined below will be strictly enforced.

Turn in assignments and take tests/quizzes on time. No late submissions will be accepted.

Actively participate in class activities by responding to questions, contributing to discussions and engaging in
group work when requested to do so.

Complete all assigned online VHL Central exercises on time.
Individual Development and Educational Assessment, a system of student evaluation widely used in higher education.
These are some of the categories included in the survey instrument.
3

Insure an operational interface with Blackboard and access it regularly. Any problems should be referred to the
IT department of ASU. This portal is an essential component of the course since it provides the main out-of-class
communication link between all course participants. Students will be able to access reviews for tests and quizzes,
check grades and find links, handouts and announcements pertaining to this class on Blackboard.

Comply with the following Angelo State University regulations and directives :
1. Cell Phone Policy: Turn off all pagers, cell phones, or other electronic communication devices before
entering the classroom. (Texting in my class will result in immediate expulsion from the session!)
2. Persons with disabilities: "Persons with disabilities which may warrant academic accommodations
must contact the Student life Office, Room 112 University Center, in order to request such
accommodations prior to any accommodations being implemented. You are encouraged to make this
request early in the semester so that appropriate arrangements can be made."
3. Academic dishonesty and plagiarism: "Angelo State University expects its students to maintain
complete honesty and integrity in their academic pursuits. Students are responsible for understanding
the Academic Honor Code, which is contained in both print and web versions of the Student Handbook."
Special note on on-line translators
The use of on-line translators in preparing writing assignments is strongly discouraged. At this level their use will have
disastrous results.
Instructor’s Obligations

Create and maintain an environment conducive to effective learning in class.

Respond adequately to all questions and queries relative to course content. Please use email to contact me after
class with any concerns. I repeat: this will get you the quickest response.

Provide prompt feedback concerning student progress (test scores, exam grades, etc.) via Blackboard or in
response to individual requests.

Maintain a record of attendances and absences.
Attendance Policy
Class attendance is absolutely crucial to your success in this course. You are allowed 3 absences for any reason; for every
absence after 3, there is a deduction of 2 points from your final grade. Each missed portion of a class (late arrival, leaving
early, exiting and re-entering, etc.) will be counted as one-third (1/3) absence. According to the 2009-2010 Angelo State
University Bulletin, page 364, valid reasons for an absence include illness, family emergency or participation in an authorized
university activity. If you have one of these valid reasons, it is your responsibility to contact me in advance if possible, and
to provide documentation to excuse the absence.
Classroom Etiquette
Because this class needs to be a participatory community if students are to fulfill their potential for learning, people who
disrupt the community by their words or actions disrupt that community. Rude, sarcastic, obscene, or disrespectful speech
and disruptive behavior have a negative impact on everyone's learning. When a person disrupts the class in these ways,
the course instructor will remove the disruptive person from the class.
Disruptive behavior includes, but is not limited to the following: receiving/replying to texts or cell phone calls during class,
leaving class early or coming to class habitually late, talking out of turn, doing assignments for other classes, reading the
Rampage, sleeping, and engaging in other activities that detract from the classroom learning experience
Evaluation
Interros des Leçons 3 x 10
Devoirs en ligne
30%
Présentations 3 x 10
30%
20%
Rédactions 2 x 10
20%
4
Reading list/Resources
http://www.sil.org/lingualinks/languagelearning/otherresources/actflproficiencyguidelines/contents.htm
For summary of ACTFL proficiency standards.
http://www.actfl.org/files/public/StandardsforFLLexecsumm_rev.pdf
For explanation of ACTFL “5 Cs”.
http://www.laits.utexas.edu/fi/home
UT Austin-authored freeware with excellent grammar reviews and conversation elements.
http://www.learner.org/resources/series83.html
French in Action, online Freeware course with excellent conversation component
Course Schedule
Date
En classe
Devoir pour la prochaine
classe
mardi 27
janvier
Conversation; pgs. 8-9 faire
les exercices en ligne. Ex. 6
conversation.
Ex. 7 Rédaction
jeudi 29
janvier
pgs, 10 - 11 Le passé composé
et l'imparfait
Exercices en ligne mise en
pratique
mardi 3 fév
Conversation. Communication
pg 13.
Rédaction: p.13 # 6
jeudi 5 fév
Le plus-que-parfait et la
concordance des temps
Faire les exercices en ligne.
Lire "Le Petit Prince"
mardi 10 fév
Lecture de "Le Petit Prince"
Faire les exercices en ligne
Jeudi 12 fév.
Pg. 29
Rédaction du blog: pp. 32-33
mardi 17 fév
Préparation de la présentation:
pp. 34-35
Mise au point de la
présentation
jeudi 19 fév
Présentation: pp. 34-35
Préparation pour l'examen
écrit.
mardi 24 fév
Examen Ecrit, Leçon 1
Apprendre le vocab D' "Idole"
Exercices en ligne
jeudi 26 fév
Visionage d' Idole
Exercices en ligne
mardi 3 mars
P. 43
Revoir la formation du
conditionnel FIA 13.3
5
jeudi 5 mars
Le conditionnel
Faire les exercices en ligne
mardi 10
mars
P. 47
Revoir les proposition "si",
FIA 13.4
jeudi 12
mars
Les propositions avec "si"
faire les exercices en ligne
16-20 mars
Spring Break
Il n'y a pas de classe
mardi 24
mars
Préparation de "Les SMS",
lecture
Faire les exercices en ligne
jeudi 26
mars
p. 55
Rédaction: "Article à
sensation", pp. 66-67
mardi 31
mars
Préparation de "Nouvelles
Technologies"
Mise au point de la
présentation.
jeudi 2 avril
Présentations: "Les
Nouvelles Techniques"
Préparation pour l'examen
écrit
mardi 7
avril
Examen Ecrit, Leçon 2
Préparation de Il Neige à
Marrakec. Faire les exercices
en ligne.
jeudi 9 avril
Il Neige ….. Visionnage
Faire les exercices en ligne
mardi 14
avril
P. 77
Révision des pronoms, FIA
7.2, 7.3, 8.2, 8.3
jeudi 16 avril
Les pronoms
Faire les exercices en ligne
mardi 21
avril
P.81
Révision du subjonctif. FIA
11.4, 11.5
jeudi 23 avril
Le Subjonctif
Faire les exercices en ligne
mardi 28
avril
P. 85
Révision
jeudi 30 avril
mise au point de La
présentation.
mise au point de la
présentation.
mardi 5 mai
Présentations: "Les Séjours
Révision
jeudi 7 mai
Révision
JEUDI 14
MAI,
EXAMEN FINAL, 8h-10h
Syllabus subject to change.